VIDEO: Animal lover films herself in sweltering car to show how dogs suffer

An animal lover has filmed a video of herself suffering the same shocking effects as dogs which are left in cars on hot days in a hard-hitting warning to pet owners.

Jess Ritchie, 24, recorded the ten-minute video after becoming concerned about a worrying number of dogs left in unattended vehicles. Just last week officers had to smash the window of a car in Nottinghamshire after a dog was left trapped inside.

The clip shows Jess sitting in the driver’s seat of her car during the recent heatwave as the temperature rockets from 35C (95F) to 41.5C (107F) in a matter of minutes.

During the video Jess can be seen becoming increasingly short of breath and sweating profusely.

After just ten minutes in the roasting car, Jess is forced to abandon her experiment when the heat becomes unbearable, and says: “This is absolutely horrible.”

Since Jess posted the film on her Facebook page last Wednesday, it has been viewed and shared more than 6,000 times around the world.

She said: “I got home from work, went on Facebook and saw all my friends had posted the story about a Terrier being rescued by police who had to smash a window to reach it.

“I was very angry. I felt for the dog and was frustrated because this happens every year yet people still do it. I can’t understand why they would.

“I thought, what can I do to show people the dangers of this and how dangerous it can get in a short space of time?

“I was so worried I decided to do something to show people exactly what it feels like to be trapped in a car on a hot day.

“It was an awful feeling and I felt so uncomfortable. At one stage I could hardly think straight. You can only imagine the effect it has on dogs. “It was extremely uncomfortable - I felt nauseous, I could feel my breathing getting a bit strange, it was not a nice experience at all.

“I knew it could get quite hot but not as hot as it did that fast - I think the maximum degree got to high as 41 degrees.

“Since I posted the video on Facebook I’ve been inundated with comments and messages of support. The reaction has been overwhelming.”

During the film Jess, who has two-year-old Cocker Spaniel called Tessa, can be seen using a thermometer to record the temperature rising inside the car.

In the video, she says: “I find it quite shocking that people still think that this is acceptable and they’re willing to risk it.

“I don’t understand what goes through their heads.

“If you’ve got a dog in the car with you and you want to stop off somewhere, either take it with you depending on the location, try and see if it can go in the shop with you, or just take it home and then go to the shop later.

“It’s not worth risking your pet’s life for because dogs do die.

“It’s just such a senseless thing to do and a waste of life.

Jess starts sweating just minutes into the video, as the temperature climbs to shocking levels.

Four minutes into the video, Jess claims she doesn’t know if she can go on, saying he is struggling to talk due to the heat.

After six minutes, Jess can be seen to look agitated from the heat, as she says “I really am sweating this is absolutely horrible”.

When the temperature reaches 41.5C (107F), Jess says: “I am absolutely dripping right now. This is horrible, it really is.

“Just don’t do it. Do not leave your dogs in a hot car.

“I think I might have to end this soon because it’s getting extremely uncomfortable now, it’s starting to make me feel quick sick to be honest with you.”

Shortly before the end of the clip, Jess says: “I can’t even think.”

The thermometer then hits a high of 41.5C (107f) and Jess ends the video.

Jess said she hopes the video will bring a greater awareness to the issue.

Tony Sanderson, owner of Babbington Dog Rescue Centre in Awsworth, Notts., said: “I think it’s great that she’s trying to raise awareness - I’ve got air conditioning on in my car and when I get in one without, even if it’s warm never-mind hot, you get the windows straight away. Dogs have a fur coat as well.

“Particularly with the weather over the last three or four days, it can take only 10-15 minutes for dogs to die in these conditions.”

Last year the RSPCA attended 8,779 incidents of dogs which were left in hot cars across the UK.

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